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The tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans – Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. After the loss of their parents in a mysterious fire, the three extraordinary siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling his many devious plans and disguises, in their fateful quest to unlock long-held family smore

A Series of Unfortunate Events RECAP and REVIEWS (5)

The prospect of a TV iteration of the thrilling book series Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events was always going to be a welcome one.

After a movie that failed to kickstart a franchise due to diminished box office returns, it seemed as though there was absolutely no chance of ever witnessing the other books being adapted.

Then,Netflix ordered a TV series, and it's fantastic. Covering the first four of the 13 books in the first eight episodes was a very good idea.

The series is essentially comprised of four movies and proves that the stories are better told over a longer arc. All of the key plots from the first four books are very much present throughout the season.

There are a few meanders from the source material along the way, but they really do the story a lot of justice. These meanders make the whole series a must–see for any fans of the franchise who think they know every single plot point.

The Baudelaire children are without a doubt the smartest siblings on the planet.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 1 and Lemony A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 2 essentially covered the events of The Bad Beginning, which was the first book in the wildly popular book series.

There was just something about these kids that held my attention throughout the two episodes. The acting from Malina Weissman (Violet), Louis Hynes (Klaus) and Presley Smith (Sunny) was just breathtaking.

All three turned in riveting performances as the children lost their parents in a house fire. The story is one that definitely tugs at the heart strings.

Being sent to live with someone who is trying to steal your fortune sounds like something ripped straight from a daytime soap opera. But the execution on this series really goes above and beyond to immerse viewers.

That was one of the key things we learned on Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 3 and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 4.

With the kids finally making their way to Montgomery Montgomery's house, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that Count Olaf would be far behind.

His latest disguise as Stephano was a stark contrast to his Olaf and it really helped give Neil Patrick Harris another fun character to play.

The thing I love about the Baudelaire children is that they can tell pretty much straight off the bat whenever Count Olaf is in disguise. It must be such a struggle for them to try and explain it to everyone.

Then again, when you have the likes of Mr. Poe trying to throw you off to the highest bidder, you kind of have to be a good judge of character.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 5 and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 1 Episode 6 struggled with some serious pacing issues.

These were the first episodes that really made me think that novel could have been adapted over just one episode. Aunt Josephine was never my favorite character in the books, but Alfre Woodard turned in a solid performance.

My main issue with the character was her complaining about everything that could go wrong, but then she revealed she put gasoline in her watercraft. I mean, did she not realize she was scared to switch on a light just a few scenes earlier?

It's a good thing I remembered to put gas in my recreational watercraft.

Josephine

Permalink: It's a good thing I remembered to put gas in my recreational w... Read more ››

Netflix's adaptation of A Series Unfortunate Events, much like the book series on which it is based, begins with the narrator Lemony Snicket desperately urging the audience to watch something else. If you follow Snicket's advice, though, you will be robbed of a weird and wonderful experience. Netflix's newest original series is a strange decision, considering the 2004 movie with Jim Carrey was never successful enough to gain a sequel and the last book in the series was published over a decade ago. Still, A Series of Unfortunate Events should manage to entice old and new fans alike as it brings to life the macabre, gothic but often hilarious world of the Baudelaire orphans.

(Don't) Look Away

A Series of Unfortunate of Events will work best for fans of the book series. It is a much closer fit (in terms of tone and atmosphere) to the books than the movie adaptation. The world that the show presents is certainly an acquired tas... Read more ››